What a goldfish really costs
Two fancy goldfish cost $10–$68 at PetSmart, but keeping them properly means a 40-gallon tank, lid, strong filter and stand that typically run about $480 before any fish go in. After that, expect around $115 a year for food, filter media, water conditioner, test strips, a little electricity, plant replacements and the odd medication, and goldfish commonly live 10–15 years, so the lifetime bill is around $2,000.
- Life expectancy
- 10–15 years
- Size
- Fancy varieties typically grow to 4–8 in, including fins
- Care level
- Moderate
- Price
- $10–$68
- Setup
- About $480
- Insurance
- Not offered
Estimate for: Two fancy goldfish (such as orandas or fantails) in a filtered 40-gallon tank; prices cover both fish. Space needed: A 40-gallon tank (20 gallons for the first goldfish plus 10–20 per extra fish) with strong filtration; no heater needed indoors.
Lifetime cost$2,000
First year $640Then about $120 a year
Where the money goes each year
A typical year for a goldfish, with typical spending in an average-cost area.
- Sinking goldfish pellets plus frozen treats$36
- Filter media (foam and carbon inserts)$18
- Illness and injury (average)$16
- Test strips or reagent top-up$13
- Water conditioner refill$11
- Electricity for the filter (and a heater only in a cold room)$11
- Plant replacement$10
- Typical year$120
Most years land between $70 and $240. Items replaced on a cycle are spread across the years.
Setup and the first year
For goldfish, the equipment usually costs far more than the animal.
Getting set up
- Price (pet store (petsmart, petco, local fish store), two fish)$39
- 40-gallon tank with lid (kit with LED hood, basic filter and heater)$180
- Strong hang-on-back filter (AquaClear 70 class)$73
- Aquarium stand for a 40-gallon tank$120
- Aquarium thermometer$5
- Gravel or sand$25
- Hardy live plants and smooth decor$20
- Water conditioner (first bottle)$11
- Water test kit$36
- Gravel vacuum and net$11
- Upfront$520
Running costs in year one
- Sinking goldfish pellets plus frozen treats$36
- Water conditioner refill$11
- Filter media (foam and carbon inserts)$18
- Test strips or reagent top-up$13
- Electricity for the filter (and a heater only in a cold room)$11
- Plant replacement$10
- Illness and injury (average)$16
- Year-one running costs$120
First-year total: $640.
Make it your estimate
Change the choices that move the price most. Totals update as you go.
Your lifetime estimate$2,000
First year $640Then about $120 a yearOver 13 years
$10 a month in a typical year.
- Sinking goldfish pellets plus frozen treats$36
- Filter media (foam and carbon inserts)$18
- Illness and injury (average)$16
- Test strips or reagent top-up$13
- Water conditioner refill$11
- Electricity for the filter (and a heater only in a cold room)$11
- Plant replacement$10
- Typical year$120
What to buy
The gear and supplies in this estimate, matched to a goldfish. Each link searches Amazon for the right type and size.
- 40-gallon tank with lid (kit with LED hood, basic filter and heater)Setup, typically about $180See on Amazon
- Strong hang-on-back filter (AquaClear 70 class)Setup, typically about $73See on Amazon
- Aquarium stand for a 40-gallon tankSetup, typically about $120See on Amazon
- Aquarium thermometerSetup, typically about $5See on Amazon
- Gravel or sandSetup, typically about $25See on Amazon
- Hardy live plants and smooth decorSetup, typically about $20See on Amazon
- Water conditioner (first bottle)Setup, typically about $11See on Amazon
- Water test kitSetup, typically about $36See on Amazon
- Gravel vacuum and netSetup, typically about $11See on Amazon
- Sinking goldfish pellets plus frozen treatsOngoing, typically about $36 a yearSee on Amazon
- Filter media (foam and carbon inserts)Ongoing, typically about $9 each, twice a yearSee on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate, PetPriceTag earns from qualifying purchases. Buying through these links costs you nothing extra and never changes our cost figures.
Health costs to plan for
| Condition | What it is | Typical treatment | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swim bladder (buoyancy) disorder | Floating, sinking or tilting; fancy goldfish are prone because their rounded bodies and curved spines press on the swim bladder, and gulping air at the surface makes it worse. Source | Sinking or neutrally buoyant diet ($22 bag of sinking pellets) and clean water; a fish vet ($50–$100 in clinic) diagnoses with X-rays, which are not priced here | $0–$122 |
| Ich (white spot disease) | A contagious protozoan parasite brought in with new fish; shows as white specks, flashing and lethargy. Source | Ich medication (API Super Ick Cure 16 oz, $21.19, or 4 oz about $7) plus aquarium salt; vets confirm by skin scraping, about $50–$100 for an in-clinic fish visit | $7–$121 |
| Fin rot | Bacterial fraying of the fins tied to poor water quality and injury; PetMD lists it among common goldfish problems, and goldfish waste makes water quality slip fast. Source | Frequent water changes, aquarium salt ($8.78) and an antibacterial such as Seachem KanaPlex ($8.14 per 5 g); a fish vet visit runs about $50–$100 | $9–$108 |
| Dropsy | Fluid buildup with pinecone-like raised scales; a sign of organ failure or infection, and severe cases are often fatal. Source | Antibiotics (KanaPlex 5 g, $8.14) and better water under veterinary guidance, about $50–$100 in clinic | $8–$108 |
The yearly estimate includes an average of $16 for illness and injury. Mainstream U.S. pet insurers do not cover aquarium fish. Nationwide's avian and exotic plan, the main exotic policy, covers birds, rabbits, reptiles, small mammals and a few others, and fish are not among the named species, so budget for medications and the rare fish-vet visit yourself.
What drives the cost
- The bowl is a myth. PetSmart's care guide says 'a fishbowl is not an appropriate home for goldfish' and calls for 20+ gallons per fish; PetMD's vet-written care sheet starts juveniles at 20 gallons, and Aquarium Co-op advises 20 gallons for the first goldfish plus 10 for each extra one.
- The tank and filter, not the fish, are the cost. Fancy goldfish are $4.99–$8.99 each at PetSmart, while a 40-gallon kit ($179.99), an extra AquaClear 70 filter ($72.99) and a stand ($119.99) top $370.
- Goldfish are messy, so filtration matters. PetMD wants the filter to turn the tank over at least four times an hour (160+ gallons per hour for 40 gallons); the AquaClear 70 moves up to 300 gph on 7 W.
- No heater is needed in a heated and air-conditioned home (Aquarium Co-op; goldfish like 65–75°F per PetMD), which keeps electricity to about $11 a year for the filter.
- Plan for the long haul: PetMD says most goldfish live 10–15 years and some pass 30, and PetSmart gives fancy goldfish 10–20 years, so running costs add up to more than the setup.
- Fancy goldfish's round bodies make swim bladder (buoyancy) problems common; PetMD's fish vet links them to body shape, diet and water quality.
Is it legal where you live?
Goldfish are legal to own throughout the U.S. and sold at national chains. Goldfish (Carassius auratus) are not on the federal injurious-wildlife list, which names only the related crucian and Prussian carps. Never release one into a pond or stream.
Cities and counties can have their own rules. Check locally before you buy.
- Pet store (PetSmart, Petco, local fish store), two fish
- $10–$68
- Lifetime
- $2,000
How this estimate is built
Every line, with the typical, thrifty and generous figures and where each comes from.
| Item | Typical | Basis and sources | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setup | |||
| 40-gallon tank with lid (kit with LED hood, basic filter and heater) | $180 | Typical: Imagitarium 40-gal LED kit with hood, hang-on-back filter and heater, $179.99 at Petco. Low: Imagitarium 40-gal breeder tank on sale for $75 plus an Aqueon 36×18 in glass top ($39.99) = $114.99, with no light. High: Aqueon 40-gal breeder tank $149.99 + glass top $39.99 = $189.98, also without a light. The kit heater can stay unplugged for goldfish. Petco: Imagitarium LED Aquarium Kit, 40 gallons (filter, heater, LED hood); Petco: Imagitarium Breeder Open-Glass Aquarium Tank, 40 gallon; Petco: Aqueon Standard Glass Aquarium Tank, 40 Gallon Breeder; Petco: Aqueon Versa Top 36 x 18 in hinged glass aquarium top | |
| Strong hang-on-back filter (AquaClear 70 class) | $73 | PetMD wants 4× tank turnover per hour, so 160+ gph for 40 gallons; Aquarium Co-op recommends hang-on-back or sponge filters with good surface agitation. The AquaClear 70 (rated 40–70 gal, 300 gph, 7 W, all media included) is $72.99 at PetSmart (regular $82.99). Needed even with the kit's basic filter, and essential for the low and high options, which have none. PetSmart: Fluval AC (AquaClear) Power Filter, 70 gal $72.99; Aquarium Depot: Fluval AquaClear AC70 power filter (300 gph, 7 W, all media included); PetMD: Goldfish Care Sheet (Melissa Witherell, DVM); Aquarium Co-op: Care Guide for Fancy Goldfish (tank size, filtration, no heater) | |
| Aquarium stand for a 40-gallon tank | $120 | Imagitarium Brooklyn metal stand for 40-gallon tanks, $119.99 at Petco (660 lb weight limit). Low is $0 only if you already own furniture rated for a full 40-gallon tank's weight. Petco: Imagitarium Brooklyn Metal Tank Stand for 40-gallon tanks (660 lb limit) | |
| Aquarium thermometer | $5 | PetMD advises keeping goldfish at 65–75°F with no more than ±2°F swing a day. Penn-Plax digital thermometer, $4.99 at Chewy; $0 if the kit's strip thermometer is used. Chewy: Penn-Plax AquaLIFE Therma-Temp Digital Aquarium Thermometer; PetMD: Goldfish Care Sheet (Melissa Witherell, DVM); Petco: Imagitarium LED Aquarium Kit, 40 gallons (filter, heater, LED hood) | |
| Gravel or sand | $25 | Spectrastone 5-lb gravel bag, $12.50 at Chewy; two bags (typical) for a thin layer, four for a deeper bed (high). Low: bare bottom, which is easiest to clean under messy goldfish. Bag counts are our estimate. Chewy: Spectrastone Swift Creek Premium Aquarium Gravel, 5-lb | |
| Hardy live plants and smooth decor | $20 | Goldfish uproot or eat most plants. Java fern ($9.99 at Aquarium Co-op) is sold as 'tough enough to survive goldfish'; two plants typical, four high. Fancy goldfish have delicate fins and eyes, so avoid sharp ornaments. Aquarium Co-op: Java Fern ($9.99, 'tough enough to survive goldfish') | |
| Water conditioner (first bottle) | $11 | API Stress Coat 16 oz, $10.98 at Chewy (treats about 940 gallons); low is the 8 oz at $8.99. Chewy: API Stress Coat Aquarium Water Conditioner (sizes, dosing) | |
| Water test kit | $36 | Goldfish produce a lot of waste, so ammonia, nitrite and nitrate need watching; Aquarium Co-op suggests a 30–50% water change when nitrate reaches 50 ppm. Typical: API Freshwater Master Test Kit (liquid, 800 tests), $35.98 at Chewy. Low: API 5-in-1 strips, 25 ct, $12.98. Chewy: fish supplies listing (Python gravel washer, net, Fluval Stratum, API Master Test Kit); Chewy: API 5 in 1 Aquarium Test Strips; Aquarium Co-op: Care Guide for Fancy Goldfish (tank size, filtration, no heater) | |
| Gravel vacuum and net | $11 | Python Pro-Clean gravel washer $7.99 and 4-in net $2.99 at Chewy. Use any clean bucket kept only for the tank (not priced). Chewy: fish supplies listing (Python gravel washer, net, Fluval Stratum, API Master Test Kit) | |
| Every year | |||
| Sinking goldfish pellets plus frozen treats | $36 | PetMD recommends sinking pellets to reduce air gulping and buoyancy problems, with frozen and freeze-dried foods for variety. Saki-Hikari Fancy Goldfish 7 oz sinking pellets, $21.99 at Aquarium Co-op, is assumed to last two fish a year (low). Typical adds 4 packs of Hikari frozen bloodworms at $3.49 ($14). High: two bags of pellets plus a frozen pack every month ($42). Amounts eaten are our estimate. Aquarium Co-op: Saki-Hikari Fancy Goldfish, 7 oz sinking pellets; Bulk Reef Supply: Hikari Bio-Pure Frozen Blood Worms (mini cubes $2.99, 3.5 oz $3.49); PetMD: Goldfish Care Sheet (Melissa Witherell, DVM) | |
| Water conditioner refill | $11 | A 25% weekly change on 40 gallons is about 520 gallons of new water a year; at API's 5 ml per 10 gallons that is 260 ml (about 9 oz), so one 16 oz bottle ($10.98) a year, or an 8 oz ($8.99) if you change less water. Chewy: API Stress Coat Aquarium Water Conditioner (sizes, dosing) | |
| Filter media (foam and carbon inserts) | $9 2 times a year | AquaClear 70 media at PetSmart: Bio-Foam insert $3.49, Active Carbon inserts 3-pack $5.99. Modeled as one foam plus one carbon pack every 6 months; this interval is our assumption (rinsing foam in tank water stretches it). Low: foam only. PetSmart: filter media listing (Fluval AC Bio-Foam insert $3.49, Active Carbon insert 3-pack $5.99) | |
| Test strips or reagent top-up | $13 | Testing every two weeks uses one 25-count pack of API 5-in-1 strips a year ($12.98 at Chewy). Low: 4 ct ($6.20) if you rely on the master kit. High: 100 ct ($24.98) for weekly testing. Chewy: API 5 in 1 Aquarium Test Strips | |
| Electricity for the filter (and a heater only in a cold room) | $11 | Rough estimate. AquaClear 70 draws 7 W: 7 × 8,760 h = 61.3 kWh × $0.1831/kWh (EIA U.S. residential average, July 2026) = $11.23. Goldfish need no heater in a heated home. High: a cold room where a heater holds water 5°F above room temperature, about 30 W average for 40 gallons at AquariumScience.org's 1.5 W per gallon per 10°F (37 W total = 324 kWh = $59). The LED light is not counted. U.S. EIA Electric Power Monthly: average residential price, July 2026 (18.31 cents/kWh); Aquarium Depot: Fluval AquaClear AC70 power filter (300 gph, 7 W, all media included); AquariumScience.org: Aquarium electric cost (heater ~1.5 W per gallon for a 10°F rise); Aquarium Co-op: Care Guide for Fancy Goldfish (tank size, filtration, no heater) | |
| Plant replacement | $10 | Goldfish eat or uproot plants, so many owners replace a java fern ($9.99) or two a year; some go plant-free. Aquarium Co-op: Java Fern ($9.99, 'tough enough to survive goldfish') | |
| Illness and injury, per year | |||
| Fish medications (and the occasional vet visit) | $16 | Most goldfish illness is treated at home: API Super Ick Cure (4 oz, $1.75/oz ≈ $7; a 40-gal tank takes 40 ml per dose), API aquarium salt 33 oz $8.78, Seachem KanaPlex 5 g $8.14. Typical assumes one ich or fin-rot course a year. PetMD recommends annual or twice-yearly checkups with an aquatic vet; high adds one in-clinic fish vet visit ($50–$100) plus medication. Chewy: API Liquid Super Ick Cure (sizes, dosing 5 ml per 5 gal); Chewy: API Freshwater Aquarium Salt, 33-oz; Bulk Reef Supply: Seachem KanaPlex, 5 g; California Fish Vet (Jessie Sanders, DVM): Is paying a fish veterinarian worth the cost?; PetMD: Goldfish Care Sheet (Melissa Witherell, DVM) | |
More pet fish by yearly cost
- Guppies$130 a year
- Betta fish$130 a year
- Neon tetras$170 a year
- Compare all pet fish
Common questions
How much does a goldfish cost?
Pet store (PetSmart, Petco, local fish store), two fish: $10–$68. The bigger costs come after: about $480 to set up, about $640 for the whole first year, then about $120 a year.
How much does a goldfish cost per year?
About $120 a year ($10 a month) for a typical owner in an average-cost area, ranging from about $70 for a thrifty owner in a lower-cost area to $240 for a generous owner in a big city.
How much does a goldfish cost over its lifetime?
About $2,000 over a 13-year life, in 2026 dollars.
Sources
- PetMD: Goldfish Care Sheet (Melissa Witherell, DVM)
- Aquarium Co-op: Care Guide for Fancy Goldfish (tank size, filtration, no heater)
- PetSmart: Goldfish & Koi Care Guide (20+ gal per fish; bowl not appropriate; 10–20 yr lifespan)
- Petco: How Long Do Freshwater Fish Live? (goldfish 10–25 yr, guppy 3–5, neon 5–10)
- PetSmart: Goldfish (live fish listing with prices)
- U.S. EIA Electric Power Monthly: average residential price, July 2026 (18.31 cents/kWh)
- California Fish Vet (Jessie Sanders, DVM): Is paying a fish veterinarian worth the cost?
- PetMD: Swim Bladder Disorders in Fish (Jessie Sanders, DVM)
- VCA Animal Hospitals: Fish White Spot Disease (Ich)
- Chewy: Betta Fish Fin Rot (causes and staged treatment)
- PetMD: Dropsy in Fish (Jessie Sanders, DVM, DABVP Fish Practice)
- Petco: Imagitarium LED Aquarium Kit, 40 gallons (filter, heater, LED hood)
- Petco: Imagitarium Breeder Open-Glass Aquarium Tank, 40 gallon
- Petco: Aqueon Standard Glass Aquarium Tank, 40 Gallon Breeder
- Petco: Aqueon Versa Top 36 x 18 in hinged glass aquarium top
- PetSmart: Fluval AC (AquaClear) Power Filter, 70 gal $72.99
- Aquarium Depot: Fluval AquaClear AC70 power filter (300 gph, 7 W, all media included)
- Petco: Imagitarium Brooklyn Metal Tank Stand for 40-gallon tanks (660 lb limit)
- Chewy: Penn-Plax AquaLIFE Therma-Temp Digital Aquarium Thermometer
- Chewy: Spectrastone Swift Creek Premium Aquarium Gravel, 5-lb
- Aquarium Co-op: Java Fern ($9.99, 'tough enough to survive goldfish')
- Chewy: API Stress Coat Aquarium Water Conditioner (sizes, dosing)
- Chewy: fish supplies listing (Python gravel washer, net, Fluval Stratum, API Master Test Kit)
- Chewy: API 5 in 1 Aquarium Test Strips
- Aquarium Co-op: Saki-Hikari Fancy Goldfish, 7 oz sinking pellets
- Bulk Reef Supply: Hikari Bio-Pure Frozen Blood Worms (mini cubes $2.99, 3.5 oz $3.49)
- PetSmart: filter media listing (Fluval AC Bio-Foam insert $3.49, Active Carbon insert 3-pack $5.99)
- AquariumScience.org: Aquarium electric cost (heater ~1.5 W per gallon for a 10°F rise)
- Chewy: API Liquid Super Ick Cure (sizes, dosing 5 ml per 5 gal)
- Chewy: API Freshwater Aquarium Salt, 33-oz
- Bulk Reef Supply: Seachem KanaPlex, 5 g
- eCFR: 50 CFR 16.13, injurious fish, mollusks and crustaceans
Estimates in 2026 US dollars. Vet prices for this pet use the same region adjustment as the rest of the site (methodology). Updated October 14, 2026.